Ferula assa-foetida Fruits: Antioxidant Activity, Toxicity Potential and Phytochemical Constituents

Background and objectives: Ferula assa-foetida L. is a perennial plant distributed in central and eastern Iran, also in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the present study, antioxidant activity, toxicity potential and phytochemical constituents of F. assa-foetida fruits were investigated. Methods: Free radical-scavenging activity and general toxicity of the essential oil and different extracts of F. assa-foetida fruits were assessed in DPPH and brine shrimp lethality tests, respectively. Phytochemical analysis of the selected extract was conducted by column chromatography on Silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 columns. GC-MS technique was used for the analysis of fruits essential oil. Results: Among the tested samples, methanol extract showed the highest free radical-scavenging activity with IC50 value of 3.9 ± 0.5 μg/mL, as well as the lowest general toxicity with LD50 value of 45.7 ± 3.1 μg/mL. Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract resulted in the isolation of seven compounds, namely, luteolin (1), chrysoeriol 7-O-glucoside (2), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (3), chrysoeriol 7-O-rutinoside (4), luteolin 7-O-rutinoside (5), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6) and luteolin 7-O-glucoside (7). Twenty six compounds were also identified in the fruits essential oil, of which (E)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide (44.02%) and (Z)-sec-butyl propenyl disulfide (27.68%) were the main compounds. Conclusion: The present study introduces F. assa-foetida fruit as a source of flavonoid, caffeoylquinic acid and disulphide derivatives with known health beneficial effects and suggests it as an appropriate candidate for further pharmacological and toxicological studies.